Saturday, March 25, 2023

The 'death' of journalism – may its memory be a blessing

 

R.I.P. Journalism . . . with "thanks" to ChatGPT. IMAGE: CP

A SNIPPET shared about the ChatGPT debate from one of the gurus of investigative journalism, Sheila Coronel, at New York’s Columbia School of Journalism. She reports on social media about a recent assignment brief given by a student to ChatGPT: “Write an obituary for journalism.”

The less than 500-word result churned out by the chatbot was too close for comfort.

“It is with heavy heart that we must announce the passing of journalism, a once-vital industry that served as a cornerstone for democracy and truth-seeking around the world.

“Born in the early days of print media, journalism grew and evolved alongside society, providing a critical lens through which we could understand the events and people shaping our world. From the rise of the penny press in the 19th century to the advent of television news in the mid-20th century, journalism adapted to new technologies and mediums, but always remained committed to its fundamental purpose: informing the public and holding those in power accountable.

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